Dead at 43 Years Old
Chadwick Boseman and Colon Cancer
Over the weekend, I was shocked to read the headline that 43 year old actor, Chadwick Boseman, had died. I immediately started wondering what had caused the early death of the Black Panther actor. Yesterday, when I heard it was colon cancer, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was immediately brought back to treating a 30 year old man dying of colon cancer. At the time, he was only a few years older than me, and the last time I saw him it broke my heart to see his loved ones surrounding his hospital bed while he slipped away.
Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer for men and women after prostate (men), breast (women), and lung (men & women) in the United States. For men, 1 in 23 will have colon cancer in their lifetime, and women have a 1 in 25 lifetime risk. Given the prevalence of colon cancer, routine screening to identify the disease early in its course is critical. The USPSTF (United States Preventive Services Task Force, say that 3 times fast) recommends routine colon cancer screening for adults age 50 to 75 years old. Adults age 76 to 85 should be consider on an individual basis depending on overall health and likelihood of tolerating treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends starting colon cancer screening at 45 years old.
What qualifies as colon cancer screening. The gold standard (preferred) screening test is a colonoscopy. To screen for colon cancer, a colonoscopy should be done every 10 years. Alternatively, FIT-DNA (stool DNA testing) can be done every one to three years or FOBT (testing the stool for blood) can be done every year. A positive FIT-DNA or FOBT test will most likely lead to a colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are preferred by clinical specialists because they are a direct visualization test, and if any abnormal growths (polyps) are seen, the polyp can be removed and sent for evaluation (biopsy).
Have you noticed the unsettling issue with the screening guidelines related to Chadwick Boseman? He was only 39 when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Even the more inclusive guidelines by the American Cancer Society would not have caught his cancer through routine screening. It is not common for younger individuals to develop colon cancer, but it can happen. So, how do we catch colon cancer before routine screening starts?
We need to recognize the signs & symptoms of colon cancer:
A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so
Rectal bleeding
Dark stools, or blood in the stool
Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
Weakness and fatigue
Unintended weight loss
Pretty vague, right? Having any of these symptoms does not mean you have colon cancer, and you don’t want to become a hypochondriac, but checking in with your health care provider if you are concerned is the right thing to do. Talk to him or her. It may save your life!
If you have other questions about colon cancer or other screening recommendations, contact me for a consultation. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed, confused or scared, I am here to guide you.
References from the USPSTF and the American Cancer Society
Kate Bender is a dual-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Adult Nurse Practitioner. She knows, firsthand, life is messy and hard. Sometimes people need support and help from a professional. When working with Kate, your mental health will be compassionately addressed in a manner that honors your mind, body, and spirit. She lives with her family on the shoreline in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.